Oct 25, 2023·edited Oct 25, 2023Liked by Jeremy Ney
Thank you for highlighting the current trend in smoking rates and the very helpful round up of policies that have been successful in reducing smoking rates.
One of my parents tried many times over the years to quit smoking, and I really pressed the matter when my son was diagnosed with asthma and visits to their house were clearly aggravating his condition. Despite an attempt to quit again, they went back to smoking.
It was only when the state (MN) implemented a cigarette tax of about $1.50 per pack (it subsequently has been increased again I think) that my parent was FINALLY properly motivated enough to quit, because they couldn't stand the idea of paying all that extra tax to the government. :P
Of course my siblings and I tried to get them to think about the cost of smoking many times over the years... that they were basically burning up $30,000 a decade that might have been spend on other things, but it's only when Uncle Sam would get the money, instead of RJ Reynolds that it was too much an injustice to bear. ;)
Thanks so much for sharing your story Crystal. This is such a powerful example of many pieces covered in the story - the impact of smoking on health in the household (i.e. your son's asthma); how people respond to incentives (i.e. Minnesota's cigarette tax encourages them to quite); and the overall role that families end up having to play in battling with smoking issues (i.e. you being the one having to convince your parents).
... thank you so much for that exhaustive inclusive outstanding report. I worked in cancer at the veterans hospital, where I learned that during WW II as far as I know and perhaps WWI : small packs of four cigarettes were in each GIs food kit, each meal. Government taught a generation of youth to smoke... being a boomer myself,
I had my first cigarette at 13 making me desperately ill and asking for another one the next day. My brother has died of lung cancer , mother died of lung cancer; I have had two cancer so we are cancer candidates --but I have not hit lung yet---perhaps I should have the new scan.
I would like to see statistics on how many smokers are Repugs; if right-wing nuts want to kill themselves with smoking, arm the population with military-grade weapons and don’t want to get properly vaccinated, I say, Go Right Ahead and kill yourselves--the sooner the better. Public Health Matters.
Imagine wishing death on people you disagree with and thinking you’re a good person. Every one is smoking more because Biden is overseeing a terrible economy, rising crime, and escalating forwards world war 3.
It’s not a “terrible economy”--where are you reading that? Oh--you don’t read very well, do you. . . Rising crime? Cite some references with real basis. Fox doesn’t count. We just had another mass-murder by a right-wing nut with an Ak-15. My sympathy rests with the victims, not the persecutors. I don’t think for a moment you are a decent person; you’re a right-wing nut, a gun-loving supporter of Putin politics. What goes hand in hand is that you lack reading comprehension abilities and you jump to accusations that are illogical. I didn’t “wish death” on anyone with my comment; however I refuse to invest any more energy into concern for people who won’t even help themselves and worse--people who put others in danger by ignoring Public Health matters.
What a dumb shit you are--I can tell you’ve never spend a moment attached to a health care field. Take your smug, self-absorbed, radical BS and stick THAT in your pipe and smoke it. . .
Imagine learning to read with comprehension. No one wished death on anyone here; however, no, I am not wasting energy worrying about those who can’t be bothered to help themselves--and worse--place the wider Public at risk.
Grow up---and try improving your reading abilities.
Jesus, you can see the reservations.
Yes these are very clearly visible in the Dakotas and south west.
Thank you for highlighting the current trend in smoking rates and the very helpful round up of policies that have been successful in reducing smoking rates.
One of my parents tried many times over the years to quit smoking, and I really pressed the matter when my son was diagnosed with asthma and visits to their house were clearly aggravating his condition. Despite an attempt to quit again, they went back to smoking.
It was only when the state (MN) implemented a cigarette tax of about $1.50 per pack (it subsequently has been increased again I think) that my parent was FINALLY properly motivated enough to quit, because they couldn't stand the idea of paying all that extra tax to the government. :P
Of course my siblings and I tried to get them to think about the cost of smoking many times over the years... that they were basically burning up $30,000 a decade that might have been spend on other things, but it's only when Uncle Sam would get the money, instead of RJ Reynolds that it was too much an injustice to bear. ;)
Thanks so much for sharing your story Crystal. This is such a powerful example of many pieces covered in the story - the impact of smoking on health in the household (i.e. your son's asthma); how people respond to incentives (i.e. Minnesota's cigarette tax encourages them to quite); and the overall role that families end up having to play in battling with smoking issues (i.e. you being the one having to convince your parents).
... thank you so much for that exhaustive inclusive outstanding report. I worked in cancer at the veterans hospital, where I learned that during WW II as far as I know and perhaps WWI : small packs of four cigarettes were in each GIs food kit, each meal. Government taught a generation of youth to smoke... being a boomer myself,
I had my first cigarette at 13 making me desperately ill and asking for another one the next day. My brother has died of lung cancer , mother died of lung cancer; I have had two cancer so we are cancer candidates --but I have not hit lung yet---perhaps I should have the new scan.
I would like to see statistics on how many smokers are Repugs; if right-wing nuts want to kill themselves with smoking, arm the population with military-grade weapons and don’t want to get properly vaccinated, I say, Go Right Ahead and kill yourselves--the sooner the better. Public Health Matters.
Imagine wishing death on people you disagree with and thinking you’re a good person. Every one is smoking more because Biden is overseeing a terrible economy, rising crime, and escalating forwards world war 3.
It’s not a “terrible economy”--where are you reading that? Oh--you don’t read very well, do you. . . Rising crime? Cite some references with real basis. Fox doesn’t count. We just had another mass-murder by a right-wing nut with an Ak-15. My sympathy rests with the victims, not the persecutors. I don’t think for a moment you are a decent person; you’re a right-wing nut, a gun-loving supporter of Putin politics. What goes hand in hand is that you lack reading comprehension abilities and you jump to accusations that are illogical. I didn’t “wish death” on anyone with my comment; however I refuse to invest any more energy into concern for people who won’t even help themselves and worse--people who put others in danger by ignoring Public Health matters.
What a dumb shit you are--I can tell you’ve never spend a moment attached to a health care field. Take your smug, self-absorbed, radical BS and stick THAT in your pipe and smoke it. . .
Imagine learning to read with comprehension. No one wished death on anyone here; however, no, I am not wasting energy worrying about those who can’t be bothered to help themselves--and worse--place the wider Public at risk.
Grow up---and try improving your reading abilities.